Thread storage apparatus with top and bottom connectors

ABSTRACT

A thread storage apparatus includes a core around which thread is wound for storage. The core extends along an axial direction from a top end to a bottom end. The apparatus includes a top connector on the top end of the core, and a bottom connector on the bottom end of the core. The thread storage apparatus may be selectively attached to a first adjacent thread storage apparatus along the axial direction by connecting the top connector to a connector on the first adjacent thread storage apparatus. Similarly, the thread storage apparatus may be selectively attached to a second adjacent thread storage apparatus along the axial direction by connecting the bottom connector to a connector on the second adjacent thread storage apparatus. An assembly is formed by attaching several thread storage apparatuses in series. Adaptors are used to change between different characteristics of adjacent thread storage apparatuses in the assembly.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/360,532 filed Jul. 11, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention

The invention pertains generally to the textile arts such as sewing and needlework. More specifically, the invention relates to thread storage devices such as thread spools, bobbins, and cones.

(2) Description of the Related Art

A typical thread spool is formed by two flanged end pieces attached on opposite ends of a cylindrical core. Thread of a particular color and type is tightly wound around the cylindrical core for packaging and storage. One problem encountered by both commercial and hobbyist sewers involves the organization of a large number of thread spools.

Beginner users often store spools in a general-purpose container such as an old shoe box. As time goes on, this simple organizational system becomes quite inconvenient. It is common for a hobbyist user to own hundreds or even thousands of different types of threads, each wrapped on a separate spool. As the number of spools increases, multiple shoe boxes or other containers are required and it becomes difficult to quickly find a desired spool. Because the user needs to continually unpack and repack the boxes when looking for specific threads, the spools tend to unwind and the various threads tangle with each other. An organizational system better than a plurality of general-purpose containers is highly desirable.

More advanced thread spool organization systems include speciality thread spool boxes, trays, drawers, and racks having specific positions for each individual spool. However, each of these storage systems imposes a common requirement that the thread spool positions must be planned in advance. For instance, a thread spool box may contain forty posts supporting the storage of forty different spools. When placing spools into the box, the user must decide where to put each thread spool to make it easy to find in the future. A user may wish to keep all spools of similar color in a single box and therefore reserve some empty spots in that box in order to accommodate adding more spools of that color at a future date. In the event the user does not have any reserved spaces left to add another spool, the user will need to start a second box or rearrange the positions of a large number of spools to make room. A similar issue is encountered when using racks and other spool organization systems, namely, the user must pre-plan the storage positions for their collection in order to reserve sufficient space for future thread acquisitions.

Unfortunately, advanced planning is at best a temporary solution because a typical user's spool collection will inevitably grow to a point where the reserved spaces are insufficient or the pre-planned spool order is no longer optimal. For example, in a thread box with twenty individual spool compartments or posts, a user may initially reserve the first ten spots for red threads and the next ten spots for yellow threads. After starting to store spools according to this plan, a problem is encountered as soon as the user purchases an eleventh red spool. Even if there are available spots still remaining in the spool box, the empty spots will be in the section reserved for yellow threads. To keep the reds together, the user must shuffle the yellows by at least one spot to make room for an extra spool in the red section. This problem is repeated ad nauseam as the spools in the user's collection change over time.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention there is disclosed a thread storage apparatus including a core around which thread is wound for storage. The core extends along an axial direction from a top end to a bottom end. The apparatus includes a top connector on the top end of the core, and a bottom connector on the bottom end of the core. The thread storage apparatus may be selectively attached to a first adjacent thread storage apparatus along the axial direction by connecting the top connector to a connector on the first adjacent thread storage apparatus. Similarly, the thread storage apparatus may be selectively attached to a second adjacent thread storage apparatus along the axial direction by connecting the bottom connector to a connector on the second adjacent thread storage apparatus.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention there is disclosed an assembly formed by attaching several thread storage apparatuses in series.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention there is disclosed an adaptor for changing between one or more characteristics of adjacent thread storage apparatuses in the assembly.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention there is disclosed a method of organizing the assembly. The method includes attaching thread storage apparatuses in the assembly according to a predetermined order. Thread storage apparatuses holding thread of a common characteristic are attached adjacent to one another. The method further includes, at a later time, obtaining a new thread storage apparatus, and determining a desired position for the new thread storage apparatus in the assembly according to the predetermined order. The method further includes detaching a first thread storage apparatus from a second thread storage apparatus in the assembly, wherein the desired position is between the first thread storage apparatus and the second thread storage apparatus. The method further includes attaching the new thread storage apparatus between the first thread storage apparatus and the second thread storage apparatus. In this way, the assembly now includes the new thread storage apparatus and all thread storage apparatuses in the assembly remain attached according to the predetermined order.

These and other advantages and embodiments of the present invention will no doubt become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings which represent preferred embodiments thereof:

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a thread spool according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an upper end view of the spool of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a lower end view of the spool of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a thread spool assembly formed by a plurality of individual thread spools of FIG. 1 connected in series according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows an isometric view of a threaded rod for providing support to the assembly of FIG. 4 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 shows an isometric view of the threaded rod of FIG. 5 running through the center of the assembly of FIG. 4 to add strength for storage and transportation.

FIG. 7 shows a first end view of an adaptor for connecting thread spools at a ninety-degree angle according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 shows a second end view of the adaptor of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 shows an isometric view of the adaptor of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 shows a top view of the adaptor of FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 shows an isometric view of two thread spools coupled together via the adaptor of FIG. 7.

FIG. 12 shows a side view of a ring piece that may be attached to an unused top connector of the thread spool of FIG. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 13 shows a side view of the ring of FIG. 12 while attached to the top connector of the thread spool of FIG. 1.

FIG. 14 shows an end view of the ring of FIG. 12 while attached to the top connector of the thread spool of FIG. 1.

FIG. 15 shows an isometric view of the ring of FIG. 12 while attached to the top connector of the thread spool of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a thread spool 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The spool 100 includes a cylindrical core 102 extending along an axial direction A from a top end 104 to a bottom end 106. Both the top and bottom ends 104, 106 are flange ends having an outer diameter greater than the diameter of the core 102. In usage, thread is wound around the core 102 for storage, and the flanged top and bottom ends 104, 106 help facilitate and protect the thread stored on the core 102 by preventing the thread from slipping off the core 102. In this embodiment, the top end 104 includes a top connector 108 being a male receptacle formed by a protruding ridge 112 extending away from the top end 104 in the axial direction A. The bottom end 106 likewise includes a bottom connector 110 being a counterpart female receptacle formed with an opening slot 114 (seen more clearly in FIG. 3) into which the protruding ridge 112 of an adjacent thread spool 100 can mate to form a frictionally secure attachment. The thread spool 100 of FIG. 1 may be any desired size and made of any desired material.

FIG. 2 shows an upper end view of the spool 100 illustrating the top connector 108, and FIG. 3 shows a lower end view of the spool 100 illustrating the bottom connector 110. As shown in FIG. 2, the protruding ridge 112 on the top connector 108 forms a circle with a particular radius around the center point (through which axial direction A runs). A center hole 200 runs through the entire length of the spool 100 along the axial direction A. The bottom connector 110 includes a corresponding slot 114 opening in the bottom end 106 which also forms a circle with a slightly different radius for accepting the ridge 112. In this embodiment, the maximum radius of the ridge 112 is slightly larger than the maximum radius formed by the slot 114. In this way, when the ridge 112 of an adjacent thread spool 100 is inserted into the slot 114, the side wall of the slot 114 frictionally engages with the ridge 112 of the adjacent thread spool 100 and achieves a secure fit between the two adjacent thread spools 100.

FIG. 4 shows a thread spool assembly 400 formed by a plurality of individual thread spools 100 connected in series along the axial direction A according to an exemplary embodiment. In this example, the assembly 400 includes a first thread spool 100 a attached to a second thread spool 100 b, and the second thread spool 100 b is likewise attached to a third thread spool 100 c. To achieve the interconnections, the bottom connector 110 a of the first thread spool 100 a is attached to the top connector 108 b of the second thread spool 100 b, and the bottom connector 110 b of the second thread spool 100 b is attached to the top connector 108 c of the third thread spool 100 c.

Each of the thread spools 100 a,b,c in the assembly 400 in this embodiment is identical in physical structure, and any number of thread spools 100 may be added in series to the assembly 400 by simply attaching the new spools to the end connectors 108 a, 110 c. Specifically, the top connector 108 a of the first thread spool 100 a and the bottom connector 110 c of the third thread spool 100 c are available to attach to other additional thread spools 100 as desired. Additionally, any number of new thread spools 100 may be placed in any position of assembly 400 by simply disconnecting two spools in the assembly 400 and inserting between them. As an example, by disconnecting the first and second spools 100 a, 100 b, a new spool 100 or even another assembly 400 of multiple spools 100 may be attached between the first and second spools 100 a, 100 b.

According to an exemplary embodiment, a user organizes their thread collection by storing their thread spools 100 in one or more assemblies 400. For example, assemblies 400 may include many thread spools 100 such that the total length of one assembly 400 is five to ten feet long. The assemblies may be stored standing upright in a closet or bucket, or laid down in a trunk. Alternatively, the assemblies 400 may also be hung on horizontal rods inserted into the center hole 200 running lengthwise along the assembly 400. The rods may be mounted on the wall at one end of the rod thereby allowing the entire assembly 400 to be slid off the free end of the rod at any time.

The assembly 400 of FIG. 4 can be employed to beneficially reduce the time required by a user to both pre-plan how they are going to organize their spool collection and to shuffle their spools after the plan later turns out to be non-optimal.

An example use case scenario illustrating a method of organizing a spool assembly 400 is as follows. A user first attaches a plurality of thread spools 100 from their collection to form a spool assembly 400 according to any desired sequence order. A typical sequence order may be to require that thread spools 100 holding thread of a common characteristic are attached adjacent to one another. Examples of the common characteristic include similar colors, sizes, and/or types. In a specific example, a user may create a spool assembly 400 of fifteen spools: the first ten spools 100 being different shades of red ordered from light to dark, and the next five spools 100 being different shades of yellow again ordered from light to dark.

Continuing the example assuming red/yellow sequence ordering, at a later time the user obtains a new thread spool 100 storing thread of another shade of red. This may occur if the user purchases a different shade of red, for example. To add the new thread spool 100 into their storage assembly 400, the user finds the position in the assembly 400 where the new shade of red should go and then detaches the two previously attached spools 100 in the assembly 400 at that position. To add the new thread spool 100 to this position, the user simply attaches the new thread spool 100 between the two detached spools 100. The assembly 400 is now updated to include the new shade of red and the user's desired color order sequence of the full assembly 400 is maintained. Beneficially eliminated in this example is the need for the user to pre-reserve any number of empty spaces in the assembly 400 for future red spools or to individually shuffle the positions of the other spools after a new shade of red is acquired. The connectable thread spools 100 and associated assembly 400 according to this embodiment allow the user to quickly insert new spools 100 at any time as needed. The same process can be used for any desired sequence ordering and groupings according to any desired thread characteristic.

Additional advantages may be realized in other situations. For instance, a user may start a new project and create a mini “project” assembly 400 of specific thread spools 100 they will need from their collection's “master” assembly 400. The master assembly 400 may include any number of spool assemblies 400 and together includes all spools 100 in the user's thread collection. When starting the project, the user can simply remove the required thread spools 100 from their master assembly 400 in order to form a separate project assembly 400 containing only the spools 100 they will need for that specific project. If the user later realizes they need a new spool 100 for the project, they can at any time add the new spool 100 into the project assembly 400 in the proper position without otherwise reorganizing or reshuffling the project assembly 400. When the user finishes the project, they may easily remove the spools 100 in the project assembly 400 and return them to the proper positions in the master assembly 400.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, the radii of the ridge 112 and the slot 114, and the thickness of their associated side walls are selected in this embodiment to ensure that the frictional fit between two adjacent spools 100 is secure enough to withstand usual forces that might be encountered when the assembly 400 is stored vertically standing in a bucket or leaning against a wall. The fit is designed to be easy for a human user to attach and break apart while also providing sufficient friction to hold the spools together during gentle movement and static storage conditions. However, as sewers and other users often travel with some or all of their spool collections via car or other modes of transportation, it is expected that the assembly 400 may need additional support to avoid adjacent spools 100 being inadvertently broken apart at certain times. For example, additional support may be required if the spools are packed in a cramped car trunk with other bags and boxes of supplies during transport.

FIG. 5 shows an isometric view of a threaded rod 500 for providing support to assembly 400 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The threaded rod 500 includes a plurality of threads 502 running the entire length of the threaded rod 500. The rod length may be any desired length while the diameter of threaded rod 500 is selected both to provide sufficient strength and to allow the rod 500 to fit within the center hole 200 running lengthwise along the axial direction A of each of the thread spools 100 in assembly 400.

FIG. 6 shows an isometric view of the threaded rod 500 running through the center of the assembly 400 to add strength for storage and transportation of the assembly 400. The thread spools 100 a,b,c are secured on the rod 500 and are prevented from slipping off the rod 500 by two nuts 600, one on either end of the assembly 400. In some embodiments, the rod 500 is made of soft plastic such that it can easily be cut to any desired length by the end user. In other embodiments, the rod is made of stainless steel or other harder material to provide maximum support. The rod 500 provides support to the assembly 400. Even if the assembly 400 somehow experiences forces strong enough to disengage the frictional fit between two adjacent spools 100 such as during transport, the assembly 400 as a whole will stay together and the user may simply confirm that all spools 100 are properly attached prior to removing the rod 500 when they arrive at their intended destination.

Although the above examples have focused on the top connector 108 having a circular ridge 112 for coupling with a corresponding bottom connector 110 having a circular slot 114, other types of top and bottom connectors 108, 110 may be employed in other embodiments. For instance, the top connector 108 may have one or more other types of protrusions that insert and frictionally engage with a corresponding set of openings on the bottom connector 110. The protrusions may include posts, clips, hooks, snaps, detents, button tops, threaded posts, screws, etc. Likewise, the openings may include slots, groves, holes, button bottoms, clasps, threaded receptacles, etc. The frictional engagement may have positive locking properties such that, once an initial frictional resistance is overcome during attachment by the user, the top connector 108 locks into place against the bottom connector 110. For removal, the user must again overcome an initial frictional resistance to unlock and detach the connectors 108, 110. Alternatively, the frictional engagement may involve a tight fit that acts to hold the top and bottom connectors 108, 110 together without technically locking them together. Other types of connectors 108, 110 may also be employed such as magnetic connectors where the top connector 108 includes a first magnet with magnetic north facing upwards along the axial direction A and the bottom connector 110 includes a second magnet with magnetic south facing downwards along the axial direction A. In another example, the core 102 of the spool 100 may itself be a magnet having north and south poles located on the top and bottom ends 104, 106, respectively.

When utilizing gendered types of connectors 108, 110 where only opposite types of connectors can be attached, for example, top-to-bottom, male-to-female, north-to-south, etc., the top and bottom ends 104, 106 may be color coded and/or include other visual symbol(s) to facilitate a user quickly determining which two ends of adjacent spools 100 are attachable. For instance, one or more arrows 120 may be painted or stamped on each spool 100 with the arrow(s) 120 all pointing toward the top end 104 of the spool 100. In this way, a user can easily attach a new spool 100 to the assembly by ensuring that the arrow(s) 120 on the new spool align (point) in the same direction as the arrows 120 on the other spools 100 in the assembly 400.

In other embodiments, genderless (hermaphroditic) connectors having the same physical connection structure on both receptacles may be employed for both the top and bottom connectors 108, 110 thereby ensuring that an adjacent spool 100 can be connected regardless of the top/bottom orientation. Examples of two-way genderless connectors include the well-known Storz hose coupling, paired knuckles, and claw type hose connectors.

FIG. 7 shows a first end view of an adaptor 700 for connecting thread spools 100 at a ninety-degree angle from one another. The adaptor 700 includes a top connector 702 being a male receptacle with a ridge 704 having the same dimensions as the ridge 112 on the top connector 108 of the thread spool 100. The adaptor 700 further includes a bottom connector 710, and FIG. 8 shows a second end view of the adaptor 700 illustrating that the bottom connector 710 is a female receptacle with a slot 712 of the same dimensions as the slot 114 on the bottom connector 110 of the thread spool 100. FIG. 9 shows an isometric view of the adaptor 700, and FIG. 10 shows a top view of the adaptor 700.

FIG. 11 shows an isometric view of two thread spools 100 e,d coupled together via the adaptor 700. As illustrated, the bottom connector 110 d of a first thread spool 100 d is attached to the top connector 702 of the adaptor 700, and the bottom connector 710 of the adaptor 700 is attached to the top connector 108 e of a second thread spool 100 e. In this manner, the first axial direction A1 along which the first thread spool 100 d is attached is angled ninety degrees from the second axial direction A2 along which the second thread spool 100 e is attached.

Different angle adaptors 700 each having different angles between the axial directions A1, A2 of the top connector 702 and bottom connector 710 may be formed. Besides the ninety-degree adaptor 700 illustrated in FIG. 11, any other desired angle may be employed in other embodiments. A first example includes an adaptor with forty-five degrees between A1 and A2, and a second example includes an adaptor with one-hundred and eighty degrees between A1 and A2 (i.e., a loopback adaptor). In yet other embodiments, the specific angle of the adaptor 700 may be a user-configurable option such as by including a swivel joint at the elbow 1100 of the adaptor 700. In such a configuration, the top connector 702 and the bottom connector 710 of the adaptor 700 are mounted on separate parts, which are physically rotatable with respect to one another.

Besides angle changing adaptors 700 such as illustrated in FIGS. 7-11, other types of adaptors 700 changing other characteristics between adjacent spools 100 may be provided in other embodiments. For instance, a size adaptor 700 has different sized top or bottom connectors 702, 710. In this way, an assembly 400 may be created by attaching two or more different sized thread spools 100 by way of the size adaptor 700 attached intermediate the two spools 100. In other embodiments, there may be a plurality of different types of top connectors 108 (and/or bottom connectors 110) utilized by different models of thread spools 100. A connector type adaptor 700 may have different types of top and bottom connectors 702, 710 in order to attach two adjacent spools 100 that would otherwise have incompatible connectors 108, 110.

In yet other embodiments, a single adaptor 700 may change between multiple characteristics of different thread spools 100; for instance, a multi-characteristic adaptor 700 may change all of the size, axial angle, and connector type thereby allowing completely dissimilar thread spools 100 to be attached to one another in an assembly 400 at any desired angle. Any combination of adaptors 700 may be utilized in a single assembly 400 thereby allowing the shape and form of the assembly 400 to be more complicated than a line of identical spools 100 along a single axial direction A as illustrated in FIG. 4. In general, the user may connect the assembly 400 using thread spools 100 in combination with adaptors 700 to build any desired structure.

FIG. 12 shows a side view of a ring piece 1200 that may be attached to an unused top connector 108 of the thread spool 100 according to an exemplary embodiment. The ring piece 1200 itself includes a female receptacle with a slot 1202 having the same dimensions as the slot 114 on the bottom connector 110 of the thread spool 100. FIG. 13 shows a side view of the ring 1200 while attached to the top connector 108 of the thread spool 100, FIG. 14 shows an end view of the ring 1200 while attached to the top connector 108 of the thread spool 100, and FIG. 15 shows an isometric view of the ring 1200 while attached to the top connector 108 of the thread spool 100.

As illustrated, the ring piece 1200 may be attached to an unused top connector 108 in order to both protect the ridge 112 on the spool's top connector 108 and to provide symmetry between the top and bottom ends 104, 106 of the thread spool 100. When attached, the ring piece 1200 extends the top end 104 of the spool 100 along the axial direction A away from the core 102 such that the combination of the ring piece 1200 and the top end 104 is symmetrical in size to the bottom end 106. In a similar manner, a ring piece 1200 may be attached to the unused top connector 108 d in FIG. 11, the unused top connector 108 a in FIG. 6, the unused top connector 108 a in FIG. 4, and the unused top connector 108 in FIG. 1.

Except in relation to FIG. 5 where the threads 502 are helical ridges on the outside of the rod 500, the term “thread” as used elsewhere herein is broadly defined and intended to refer to any textile fiber or combination of fibers such as thread, strands, yarn, string, twine, rope, or other similar materials. Typical uses of thread fibers include to stitch or interlace with fabric or to interweave with itself, and these goals may be achieved by hand or aided by a mechanical, electronic, or computerized device. However, the specific use of the thread is not limited herein and the thread spool 100 disclosed herein can be utilized in any application where thread including any textile fibers needs to be stored in an easy-to-(re)organize manner.

Although the invention has been described in connection with preferred embodiments, it should be understood that various modifications, additions and alterations may be made to the invention by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, although the above description has focused on thread spools 100, other types of thread storage apparatuses can be made in a similar manner. For instance, instead of a spool, a bobbin is provided in other embodiments and has top and bottom connectors 108, 110 to allow attachment to other bobbins in a similar manner as described above. In yet other embodiments, a cone is provided with top and bottom connectors 108, 110. It is also not a requirement that adjacent thread storage apparatuses need to be the same as each other. In some embodiments, an assembly may be formed by attaching dissimilar thread storage apparatuses, either by way of compatible connectors 108, 110 or by way of an adaptor 700.

According to an exemplary embodiment, a thread storage apparatus includes a core around which thread is wound for storage. The core extends along an axial direction from a top end to a bottom end. The apparatus includes a top connector on the top end of the core, and a bottom connector on the bottom end of the core. The thread storage apparatus may be selectively attached to a first adjacent thread storage apparatus along the axial direction by connecting the top connector to a connector on the first adjacent thread storage apparatus. Similarly, the thread storage apparatus may be selectively attached to a second adjacent thread storage apparatus along the axial direction by connecting the bottom connector to a connector on the second adjacent thread storage apparatus. An assembly may be formed by attaching several thread storage apparatuses in series. One or more adaptors may be used to change between different characteristics of adjacent thread storage apparatuses in the assembly.

Thread spools 100 may be sold in stores with pre-loaded thread of any characteristic. Hobbyist sewers may thereby save money as the thread spools 100 they buy are themselves components of the user's thread storage system and may be directly added into the user's existing assembly 400 at the desired position(s).

In another example modification, a non-threaded rod may be utilized for providing support instead of the threaded rod 500 illustrated in FIG. 5. When utilizing a non-threaded rod, nuts 600 shown in FIG. 6 may be replaced with a different type of stopper acting as securing mechanism such as sliding clamps or locks. At least one of the clamps or locks may be spring-loaded to hold solid against the rod after being placed while still allowing quick release when pressed or squeezed by the user. Telescoping quilt rods may also be leveraged in a similar manner as rod 500 to support thread spool assemblies 400 during transportation.

In yet another example modification, the thread spools 100 may also be containers to store other items inside. For instance, the core 102 of the thread spool 100 may include a door, drawer, or other movable structure to allow items to be stored within the hollow portion of the core 102.

In the above examples, the designations of “top” and “bottom” are utilized for convenience of description and were arbitrarily selected. The top and bottom directions and labels may be reversed in other embodiments.

The various above-described components such as thread spools 100, supporting rods 500, and adaptors 700 may also be utilized for other purposes different than storing thread. For instance, as the various components 100, 500, 700 can be coupled together in a variety of shapes limited only by the imagination of the user, these components 100, 500, 700 may together form a toy or kit for children to play with. This may be beneficial as a dual use where a parent or other care provider will purchase a large number of thread spools 100, rods 500, and/or adaptors 700 in advance of their thread collection actually needing so much storage capacity. In addition to benefiting from a discount on the components purchased in bulk, the parent or care provider may allow children of family or friends to play with the unused components 100, 500, 700 for building various structures. As the user's thread collection grows, the parent or care provider can reclaim thread spools 100 and other components 500, 700 to use as thread storage as needed.

In general, both empty and filled thread spools 100 can be connected together into one or more assemblies 400 to form rods or other shapes when combined with adaptors 700. Each assembly 400 can itself then be utilized to perform another separate function besides just storing thread within. In another example, thread spools 100 may be connected together to form an assembly 400 that is then utilized as a quilt rod to hang the user's work for display.

All combinations and permutations of the above described features and embodiments may be utilized in conjunction with the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A thread storage apparatus comprising: a core around which thread is wound for storage, the core extending along an axial direction from a top end to a bottom end; a top connector on the top end of the core; and a bottom connector on the bottom end of the core; wherein the thread storage apparatus may be selectively attached to a first adjacent thread storage apparatus along the axial direction by connecting the top connector to a connector on the first adjacent thread storage apparatus; and the thread storage apparatus may be selectively attached to a second adjacent thread storage apparatus along the axial direction by connecting the bottom connector to a connector on the second adjacent thread storage apparatus.
 2. The thread storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the top connector and the bottom connector are gendered connectors having different connection structure from one another.
 3. The thread storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the top connector of the core is a male receptacle containing a protrusion extending away from the top end in the axial direction for insertion into a corresponding opening on the first adjacent thread storage apparatus; and the bottom connector of the core is a female receptacle containing at least one opening on the bottom end in the axial direction for accepting a corresponding protrusion on the second adjacent thread storage apparatus.
 4. The thread storage apparatus of claim 3, wherein: the protrusion comprises a ridge forming a circle with a first radius perpendicular to the axial direction on the top end of the core; and the opening comprises a slot forming a matching circle with a second radius perpendicular to the axial direction on the bottom end of the core, the second radius being different than the first radius such that an interlocking and/or a frictional engagement is made when the ridge is inserted into the slot.
 5. The thread storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the top connector and the bottom connector are genderless connectors having a same connection structure.
 6. The thread storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the top end and the bottom end of the core are flange ends having diameter greater than that of the core.
 7. The thread storage apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a ring piece selectively attachable to a particular one of the top connector or the bottom connector; wherein, when the ring piece is attached to the particular one of the top connector or the bottom connector, a combination of the ring piece and the particular one of the top connector or the bottom connector is substantially symmetrical in size to an opposite end of the core being either the bottom end or the top end, respectively.
 8. The thread storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the thread storage apparatus is physically identical to the first adjacent thread storage apparatus and the second adjacent thread storage apparatus.
 9. The thread storage apparatus of claim 1, being one of a spool, a bobbin, or a cone.
 10. An assembly comprising a plurality of thread storage apparatuses of claim 1 connected in series.
 11. The assembly of claim 10, further comprising: a rod running along the axial direction through a hollow center of the core of each of the plurality of thread storage apparatuses in the assembly; a first stopper preventing slippage of the assembly at a first end of the rod; a second stopper preventing slippage of the assembly at a second end of the rod; wherein the thread storage apparatuses in the assembly are secured on the rod between the first and second stoppers.
 12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein: the rod is a threaded rod; the first stopper is a first nut; and the second stopper is a second nut.
 13. The assembly of claim 11, wherein: the rod is a non-threaded rod; and at least one of the first and second stoppers is spring loaded to hold secure against the rod after being placed and allowing quick release when pressed by a user.
 14. The assembly of claim 10, further comprising: an adaptor having a body extending from a first end to a second end; a first connector on the first end of the body; and a second connector on the second end of the body; wherein the adaptor is attached in the assembly between a plurality of two particular thread storage apparatuses; and the adaptor changes at least one characteristic between the two particular thread storage apparatuses while connected in the assembly.
 15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein: the two particular thread storage apparatuses have one or more physical dimensions preventing direct connection between the two particular thread storage apparatuses; the first connector of the adaptor is compatible for connection with a first of the two particular thread storage apparatuses; and the second connector of the adaptor is compatible for connection with a second of the two particular thread storage apparatuses.
 16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the physical dimensions at least include different sized connectors on the two particular thread storage apparatuses or different types of connectors on the two particular thread storage apparatuses.
 17. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the body of the adaptor is formed such that the second connector attaches to the first of the two particular thread storage apparatuses along a new axial direction different than the axial direction at which the second of the two particular thread storage apparatuses is attached.
 18. A method of organizing the assembly of claim 10, the method comprising: attaching the thread storage apparatuses in the assembly according to a predetermined order; at a later time, obtaining a new thread storage apparatus; determining a desired position for the new thread storage apparatus in the assembly according to the predetermined order; detaching a first thread storage apparatus from a second thread storage apparatus in the assembly, wherein the desired position is between the first thread storage apparatus and the second thread storage apparatus; and attaching the new thread storage apparatus between the first thread storage apparatus and the second thread storage apparatus; whereby, the assembly now includes the new thread storage apparatus and all the thread storage apparatuses in the assembly remain attached according to the predetermined order.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein: the predetermined order requires thread storage apparatuses holding thread of a common characteristic to be attached adjacent to one another; and the common characteristic is one of a thread type, a thread size, or a thread color.
 20. The method of claim 18, wherein: the predetermined order requires thread storage apparatuses holding thread of a different characteristic to be attached adjacent to one another; and the different characteristic is one of a thread type, a thread size, or a thread color. 